3-step read for DBs vs. Shotgun

Yo Coach,

Can't see what your thinking when you say cover #3 presents great position to defend smash combo.
If I run a 6 yd hitch by my #1 on your CB who is setting off 7-9 yds on the strong side, on the outside shoulder if he is in a true cover #3 alignment, we are going to win that matchup everytime, or at least we should. That puts my #2 receiver one on one with the FS who has to roll over to make the play on the corner route. I coach my #2 receivers to read the FS all the way and if he is slow reacting to just cut the break point down and get on the corner route at about 10-12 yds. What is your thinking on this, coach?

Coach Easton

Jackryan,

I run an empty gun 5 wide (3 x 2) and according to your post immediately above, I think you see clearly why, agreed?

Coach Easton

No doubt about it, coach. We mix in some press man-free with our 3, then play around with pressing and bailing or starting off and "creeping" up just pre-snap - particularly good against teams that auto-check their 3-step routes at the line. We have baited people into INTs quite a bit that way. We also will get into a "nickel" scheme (replace a LB w/ another DB) and play 1/4s coverage behind it, mainly in long yardage situations....
What coverage schemes have given you the most difficulty with your offensive philosophy - we don't see too much wide-open passing in our area...

I see no problem with cover 3 against the smash combo b/c i have my SS in the flat to get the 6-7 yd. hitch. And my corner has to be reading both #1 and #2. I teach my corners to glance at #2 if #1 has settled. He has to know that the deep route is more important than that underneath 6-7 yarder and have faith that his safety in the flat will get that. It would never be an LB on that b/c I'd play my SS to the 2 receiver side and if the offense was 2x2, I'd check to a cover 2. Plus, the SS should be playing head up on the #2 and impeding his progress to get upfield, thus throwing off the timing of the smash.

If I was playing you, I would've scouted and known that you run mainly a 3 x 2 set, leaving only the QB as the only immeadiate running threat and would gameplan to run a nickel or dime as my primary defense. My DTs would be crossing to clog up middle running lanes. I'd primarily be running a man free scheme. However, if i was going to run a zone, it would be a cover 2 and gameplanning to sink my corner on the 2 receiver side when he sees the #1 go inside and #2 go vertical on the backside. The corners would have to play outside leverage and make sure they did not get beat to the outside by the #1, forcing the receivers to bunch more and making the deep coverage easier. The nickel would jam the hell out of the #3, and not let him get a good free release upfield to influence the FS too early. There is no way to defend a 3x2 set without bringing a backer out of the box, at least no real sound way. But taking him out doesn't do much damage b/c the run threat isn't immeadiate or severe. Plus, that's why the DTs are crossing. That's my best stab at it after a few minutes of consideration.

Reading 3 step under center is so much easier than gun - as stated above. Problem to me is that you don't have practice time trying to work both (gun / under center). In fact, isn't 3 step vs cover 3 a weakness to the defense? If 3 step is hurting you, maybe cover 2 will help.

If this is true about 3 step and cover 3, I would think you would want to make sure your CB's are making good, sharp breaks and attacking receiver with the proper leverage to make stop for a minimal gain. I am not sure I have seen hardly any high school QB's deliver the ball on time to a quick route timing (slant/stop/etc) out of the gun - it is almost always thrown late. With this in mind, if there is 1 standup receiver, our CB's have eyes on QB and then to receiver on snap of ball, so we basically play a man tech in this situation of cover 3. Having eyes on QB to begin with does two things: 1. Looks like zone on pre snap 2. allows CB to see motion which might possibly change our technique in cover three. If there are two standups (twins / trips) CB's play a zone technique with eyes on ball to #2.

HEY BILL,

THAT IS A PERFECT ANALOGY AND 100% CORRECT.

Coach Easton-TIGER ONE

The read on the QB for 3 steps is simple.

If under center - there will be ONE crossover step.

If in gun - he pivots & throws!

Coach Easton,

I totally agree with what you are saying, but the key word there is "IF"! We ran the spread a few years ago and if we played ourselves, it would have been easy to read the difference in 3/5 step! Unfortunately, the mechanics of many QB's aren't consistent enough in my opinion. I was actually told by a 1AA DC that they do not read QB any more for 3/5 step due to my initial question which surprised me.

Bill - can you send me the db tech sheet? email- ballcoach1@netzero.net

Thanks!

3-3-5 COACH,

YOU ARE RIGHT ON WITH YOUR ASSESSMENT OF MOST QB'S NOT BEING CONSISTENT WITH THEIR MECHANICS. As you know I'm sure, most high school level coaches take the best athlete they have and make him the QB, irregardless of his actual training at the position. This to me is foolish, but go with what you know as we always say. Our QB is back 6-8 yds in the empty nest, so "dropping" is not in our vocabulary. Our QB's are always moving laterally as the depth is already attained and that can't always be the case if you have a gun QB at only 5 yds depth.

Coach Easton-TIGER ONE